Today’s blog is the group version of, “A dedication (#1 of 2)”, which I posted on the 13th of August. If you would like to check out that earlier, individual prayer, here is a link: https://wp.me/p45bCr-eSN.
May your kingdom come.
(Luke 11:2; GNT).
Father,
May your kingdom come
In every life,
To make us one.
Jesus, May your will be done
In every mind,
Till we are one.
Spirit, May your pity dwell
In every heart:
Please make us one.
Yahweh,
May your mercy reign
In every soul,
Then we’ll be one.
Saviour,
May your kingdom come
Throughout this world:
Your will be done. May yourwillbedone on earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10; NLT).
Today’s prayer arrived last Friday morning. As I worked to put it into words, it divided into two: one version for personal use, and one for groups. Here is the personal version, which came first. I plan to post the second in a week’s time, God willing.
May your kingdom come.
(Luke 11:2; GNT).
The kingdom of God is within you.
(Luke 17:21; NKJV).
Father,
May your kingdom come
Within my body:
Make us one.
Jesus,
May your will be done
Within my mind,
Till we are one.
Spirit,
May your kingdom come
Within my heart,
So we’ll be one.
Three-fold God,
Your will be done
Within my soul,
Then we’ll be one.
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
(1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).
Yesterday morning, this prayer arrived without warning. I scribbled down lots of notes at the time, but it proved very challenging to write.
O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
(Psalm 63:1; RSV).
Seek Christ’s living water:
Yes, plead for it each day.
He freely gives: receive his love,
Then he will help you pray.
Seek Christ’s living water,
For it will slake your thirst.
He freely gives: accept his joy,
Then put his kingdom first.
Seek Christ’s living water,
For he makes all things new.
He freely gives: embrace his peace,
Then he will dwell in you.
Seek Christ’s living water, For he will not condemn.
He freely gives: so share your cup
With all, to comfort them.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; NLT).
References
Verse 1: * To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life (Revelation 21:6; NLT).
Verse 2: * Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water… Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:10,14; NLT).
Verse 3: * He who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, Imakeall things new” (Revelation 21:5; RSV).
* In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he livesinall of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Verse 4: * God did not send his Son into the world tocondemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:17; NIV).
* Freely you have received; freely give (Matthew 10:8; NIV).
* Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward (Matthew 10:42; NKJV).
* On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:37-8; RSV).
This prayer arrived as I greeted my icon of Christ yesterday morning. To begin with, only the first three words came to me. They stood alone, seemingly unconnected to anything else, but I knew I had to write them down. A few minutes later the next three words emerged, then, line by line, the whole piece was born from nothingness, or perhaps I should say from everything,because God is all, and is in all:
There is…one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).
Christ isall, andisinall (Colossians 3:11; NIV).
Thine incorruptible spirit is in all things (Wisdom of Solomon 12:1; KJV).
In just a few minutes, the process was complete, leaving me deeply awed. I’ve never been more certain that how I am is exactly how I am meant to be, and that God’s will is being done through all that happens to me. It was such a strange experience – a momentary glimpse of timelessness, infinity, oneness, and the unfathomable goodness of God’s plans:
“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11; NLT).
God is greater than we can understand (Job 26:36; NLT).
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).
So, after this rather long introduction, here is today’s prayer:
I see Your face when I awake.
(Psalm 17:15; LSV).
Time stands still
In endless space
When we gaze, Lord,
On your face.
Your will is done,
Your reign has come,
And all is well,
For we are one.
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
(1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).
References
They will look on me, the one they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10; NIV).
My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NLT).
The LORD reigns forever (Psalm 9:7; NLT).
It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ (Revelation 12:10; NLT).
The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).
The LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well (1 Kings 5:4; NLT).
I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as weareone (John 17:22; NLT).
I woke early today, and immediately began to pray about the dreadful situation in Ukraine and Russia. Within a few minutes, these verses started to flow, and I had to “break off” from praying in order to write them down.
As I wrote, I began to realise that perhaps I wasn’t really “breaking off” at all, because the act of struggling to put what I saw into words was simply a continuation of my prayer. I’ve seen this intellectually for a long time, but today I saw and felt its truth – for a short while, at least.
This is the fastest I have ever written a prayer, then published it immediately, but I have been driven to do so today, so it’s not as polished as usual. Please forgive my shortcomings: I will continue to develop this piece during the day.
You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.
(Matthew 24:6; NLT).
If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Your peace would have been like a river, and your justice would have been like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:18; CPDV).
1. Keep praying for peace,
And never give up –
Though all looks hopeless,
Never give up.
2. Keep pleading for justice, And never give in –
Though it seems useless,
Never give in.
3. Keep begging for truth,
And never give way –
Though it seems futile,
Never give way.
4. Lord, You have plans That we can’t understand – Thy Kingdom come,
And thy will be done.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10; NLT).
Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.
(Zechariah 8:17; NKJV).
References
Verses 1-3: Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1; NLT).
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!(Isaiah 59:8-9; NKJV).
I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! (Habakkuk 3:16-19; NLT).
Verse 4: “I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:11-13; NLT).
God is greater than we can understand (Job 36:26; NLT).
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things (Ecclesiastes 11:5; NLT).
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NIV).
Don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith? (Luke 18:7-8; NLT).
Whilst praying this morning, I reflected on the severely unsettled, and unsettling, state of our world:
Those who hold power are taking their stand, gathering their forces against YHWH (Psalm 2:1; TIB).
But then I saw that God is just as unchanging, powerful and loving as ever:
I am the LORD, and I do not change (Malachi 3:6; NLT).
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all (1 Chronicles 29:11; KJV).
He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
God waits for us to repent, so we can be forgiven, and start to change:
The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).
Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).
So I prayed that we will all repent, turn to God, and start changing our lives before it’s too late: before we destroy the earth, our only home, and all her plants, creatures and people, through our foolish wars, hatred, selfishness, greed and ignorance:
Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD’s forgiveness before it is too late. For the LORD has threatened them with his terrible anger (Jeremiah 36:7; NLT).
Reading: Psalm 2, The Inclusive Bible
Why are the nations creating such an uproar?Why all this commotion among the peoples?
Those who hold power are taking their stand, gathering their forces against YHWH, against God’s Anointed One. “Let’s break their chains!” they say. “Let’s throw off their shackles!”
But the One who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs; the Sovereign One derides them, then rebukes them in anger and, enraged, terrifies them: “It is I who installed my ruler on Zion, on the mountain of my holiness!”
I will proclaim God’s decree – YHWH said to me: “You are my own; I’ve given birth to you today. Just ask – I’ll give you the nations as your inheritance! I’ll give you the ends of the earth as your possession! You’ll break them with an iron scepter; you’ll shatter them as easily as a clay pot.”
So, you rulers, be wise! And you who hold power, stand warned! Serve YHWH and rejoice – but do so with fear and trembling.Pay homage to God’s Own lest you be destroyed on your way in a blaze of anger – for God’s passion can flare up without warning.
Happiness comes to those who make God their refuge!
Context: After posting yesterday’s prayer (https://wp.me/p45bCr-c36), I saw that the image of the wolf lying down with the lamb is a wonderful way of representing the revolutionary quality of relationships in the Kingdom of God (Isaiah 11:6-9; NIV).
This radically new way of living is characterised by treating everyone with love, regardless of how they behave towards us. We all have the potential to live like this, because God’s Kingdom is present within everyone (Luke 17:20-21; NKJV). Jesus lived as a citizen of God’s Kingdom on earth, and we, too, as individuals, can work towards the same goal.
However, for the Kingdom of God to hold sway throughout the whole world, we must all overcome the temptation to judge, reject, hurt, hate and destroy others. This applies to every person, family, group, denomination, caste, sect, class, tribe, religion and nation.
Both individually and collectively, the human qualities we need to overcome include:
Behaving selfishly and callously towards others
Refusing to share what we have
Controlling, dominating, bullying and abusing those less powerful than ourselves
Taking what belongs to other people
Judging and rejecting others for being different from ourselves in any way
Rejecting those with different spiritual beliefs and practices from ourselves
Looking down on, or hating, those whose skin-colour, sexuality, or way of life, is different from our own
Pursuing cruel, destructive conflicts and wars
Overexploiting and destroying the earth, our only shared home
Using richly symbolic, visionary language, Isaiah vividly illustrates what it will be like when everyone lives in the Kingdom of God:
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:6-9; NIV).
Following this train of reflection, today’s poem quickly came to me, though it was very difficult to put into words:
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough” (Luke 13:18-21; NLT).
What is the Kingdom of God like?
The strong take good care of the weak,
Men treat all women as equals,
And wait for their sisters to speak.
What is the Kingdom of God like?
The rich share their wealth with the poor.
The healthy assist the disabled,
And all give up hatred and war.
What is the Kingdom of God like?
It’s heaven on earth and above,
For colour and creed make no difference
When all live in God, who is Love.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).
References
When He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21; NKJV).
The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).
I heard a loud voice calling from the throne,“Look! God’s Tabernacle is among humankind! God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them. The Most High will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more, for the old order has fallen.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Look! I’m making everything new!” and added, “Write this, for what I am saying is trustworthy and true.” And that One continued, “It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To those who are thirsty I will give drink freely from the spring of the water of life. This is the rightful inheritance of the overcomers. I will be their God and they will be my daughters and sons (Revelation 21:3-7; TIB).
Context: I woke at 6am, began to pray, and immediately had to catch hold of today’s prayer. To my delight, it flowed easily, and wasn’t too exhausting to write. After that I slept and woke, slept and woke, until 10am.
My first morning in Ely meant buying some food at the outdoor market. Life here in the Fens is very different from my quiet days on the island. There were hundreds of people crowding around the stalls, talking, laughing, eating and shopping, ready to help strangers and to chat. One lovely man even told me his life-story.
By the time I got back to my flat for lunch and a rest, I was quite shaky, completely overwhelmed by all the sounds, sights, smells and colours of creation so lavishly displayed in this busy, lively town. This fitted with a theme seems to be emerging from my trip: “I will make all my goodness pass before you” (Exodus 33:19; NLT), as illustrated by today’s blog:
Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
(Matthew 6:13; KJV).
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God,
and God in them (1 John 4:16; TIV).
Thine, the kingdom,
Thine, the power,
Thine, the glory,
Thine, the love,
Thine, the mercy,
Thine, the giving,
Thine, the saving: God above.
Mine, the weakness,
Mine, the failure;
Mine, the darkness,
Mine, the sin,
Mine, the longing,
Mine, the searching,
Mine, the finding: God within.
You will seek me and find me,
when you search for me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:13; NKJV).
You are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
(2 Corinthians 6:16; NKJV).
